Patent Policy

The patent policies of SUNY and the Research Foundation for SUNY are identical. All employees of the Foundation agree to abide by the provisions of these policies as a condition of employment. The employee agrees to the policy upon signing the appointment form. Major provisions of the policy are as follows:

Inventions must be promptly disclosed to appropriate Foundation or University officials.

The University or the Foundation owns all patentable inventions.

The inventor will receive the bulk of gross royalties received subject to any prior sponsor restrictions.

Exclusive licenses for a fixed period of time may be granted for the marketing of inventions.

Although the terms and conditions of sponsored programs may impose specific rules applying to inventions arising out of sponsored activity, when differences arise between sponsor policies and those of SUNY and the Foundation, all reasonable efforts are made to negotiate differences to the mutual benefit of all parties.